More rain in the forecast for this week, but not enough to break the drought

By Mark Gomez and Kristin J. Bender Bay Area News Group

Posted:
03/03/2014 10:37:04 AM PST

Updated:
03/03/2014 05:14:49 PM PST

Fresh off back-to-back storms that dropped about 2 inches of rain in San Jose and San Francisco, more rain is expected this week in the Bay Area.

But new storms aren't expected to bring much rain to the drought-stricken Bay Area. Forecasters are predicting totals of about 1 inch of rain in the East Bay and North Bay and just three-quarters of an inch in the South Bay.

Last week's storms boosted the Bay Area's rainfall totals by as much as 2 inches. But overall most of the regions remains below 50 percent of normal.

"We are starting to run out of time for rainfall," National Weather Service Forecaster Austin Cross said. "The fact that it's a wet pattern vs. a real dry pattern we had the first half of winter is a good sign."

Cross added, "In all likelihood, we probably won't catch up to what normal is. But getting closer helps."

In the East Bay, North Bay and along the Peninsula, forecasters expected rain Monday night with southeast winds up to 10 mph and lows in the mid 50s. Tuesday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain, with winds from the south up to 10 mph and highs in the 60s on the coast to the upper 60s inland. Rain is not expected Tuesday night.

Wednesday will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain but with temperatures increasing, up to the 70s inland.

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In the South Bay, rain was likely Monday evening with more rain after midnight. Forecasters are expecting lows from the upper 40s to the mid 50s with southeast winds up to 10 mph. There's a chance of showers Tuesday that could continue into the afternoon. Tuesday night expect showers and lows from the 40s to mid 50s. Wednesday in the South Bay will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain, with highs from the 60s to mid 70s.

The rain will be welcome.

San Jose recorded 1.88 inches of rain last Wednesday through Sunday but stands at 40 percent of normal, according to the weather service. On average, San Jose's rainfall total through March 2 is 11.53 inches.

San Francisco and Oakland received 2.18 and 1.24 inches of rain last week, pushing their rainfall totals to 8.1 inches (44 percent of normal) and 5.82 inches (37 percent of normal).

The cloudy and wet conditions are expected to clear by Friday and make way for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s by the weekend. Cross said there are signs the Bay Area could see more rain next week.

The recent storms also dropped into Southern California, where residents in three foothill communities headed home Sunday after a powerful storm that threatened to unleash mud on neighborhoods located beneath unstable hills scarred by recent wildfires.

With the storm reduced to sprinkles, residents in the Los Angeles County cities of Glendora and Azusa were allowed back into their homes. Monrovia residents were allowed back late Saturday, officials said.

The storm -- the largest since 2010 -- kept emergency planners and rescue crews busy, but it didn't produce enough rain to pull California out of a crippling drought.

The National Weather Service says that as of Monday morning, downtown LA had received 5.72 inches of rain for the water year that began July 1. The deficit now stands at 5.74 inches, and the percent of normal rainfall to date has increased to 50 percent.